Scout leader challenges incumbent for Amity supervisor nomination

AMITY — The Republican nomination for a seat on the Amity Township Board of Supervisors is up for grabs on Tuesday between incumbent Robert R. Yanos and newcomer David Hackett.

Yanos, 54, born and raised in Douglassville, has served as supervisor for two six-year terms, was board chairman for six years and also served on the planning commission for four years.

He and his wife, Kelly, operate a farm off of Amity Park Road.

“I’m running for supervisor again because I want to hold the line on taxes — of which I never raised during my 12 years on the board,” Yanos said.

The tax rate has remained at 1.8 mills with .4 mills funding the Amity and Monarch fire departments’ equipment costs, and .1 mill funding fire hydrant service through the fire tax.

Annual tax payments on a $100,000 assessed-property are $180.

“I’m also running because of the excessively high school taxes, which are a burden to people. The easiest thing is to say ‘yes’ to raising taxes, the hardest part is to say ‘no,’ but you have to say no.”

The Daniel Boone Area School District’s current millage rate is 28.9618 mills. Property taxes are $2,896.18 for every $100,000 of assessed value.

David Hackett, age 55, has resided in Douglassville for 11 years with his wife, Tina.

Tina’s father, Earl Hafer, owned a large dairy farm in the area.

They have three children: Melissa, age 28; Alex, 11, and Emma Rose, 9.

Hackett has worked in automotive sales at Daniels BMW, Allentown, for the last 11 years.

He said his decision to run for the supervisor position resulted from wanting to set a good example for his son, Alex, who recently crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts in Troop 597, Amityville.

“I decided to run — to do community service, and lead by example -- how to be active in the community and in local government,” said Hackett.

He has served as a Cub Scout assistant den leader for four years and is now a scout master with the Boy Scouts.

“I would like to take my turn at it,” said Hackett. “I always believed … should be active in local government and in the community.”